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FredCDobbs, This is a double coincidence or, co-coincidence? My dad worked at the Navy Yards in Virginia during World War II. I suppose he was highly regarded as a machinist...he was interviewed by Von Braun, around 1950, Huntsville, Alabama. What was to become part of NASA was getting organized. Originally from Sweden, he did not want to live some place that got as hot as Alabama--turned an offer of employment down. Coastal Virginia did not get hot? Instead, took a job at (what was then) the National Bureau of Standards in Boulder (atomic clock stuff). Anyway, got to meet one of the great engineers of the 20th century. I am glad at his decision. I have lived in Alabama. Colorado better than Alabama, climate-wise. Please, no cards and letters about Colorado versus Alabama--this is only my opinion. Fred, there it is. Six degrees of sumthin'-nuther. Rusty

FredCDobbs, I just noticed I wrote "Triumph Of The Will" when I should have written "Olympia". What happened to the 'Get-It-Right' button? I know I saw it next to 'Spell Check'. Rusty

FredCDobbs, What a coincidence! I just now finished your post about "Triumph of the Will" and documentary filmmaking. Fascinating! While a student in high school, I was smart enough to be one of ten students to attend the school's first 'film study' class. I think the class was a 'try-out'--see if students showed any interest. One of the films considered (by the instructor) to be of enough importance and, of course, available was "Triumph of the Will". The class spent one week studying this film--one viewing over two classes and three days of re-viewing what the teacher considered the important segments. One of the things I remember was the use of lighting so that, to give an example, a solitary athlete was framed against a black background--very dramatic (maybe it was the print?). To get to a point, I remember the instructor saying that, "despite working for the Third Reich, Leni Riefenstahl was considered a filmmaker of considerable influence"--this was in the early 1970's. "Gabriel Over the White House". One connection between movie plot and American history is the severe illness of President Hammond/President Woodrow Wilson...the cover-up by White House staff/ President's family and the unconstitutional 'usurpation' of executive power. I guess the Wilson cover-up was public by the time "Gabriel Over the White House" was produced. Rusty

MikeDouglas, I have seen "Gabriel Over the White House". A couple of times. Boy, does THAT come from a different time and place. A movie that has caused more than one discussion in my family. Unfortunately, not the answer to my query. I will check out Jack Benny. Rusty

MikeDouglas, Not a whole lot to go on...is it? As for color or black/white--funny you should mention that. Another movie I saw (on TV) about the same time was, "nuns stuck in a monastery...going crazy...running through the Alps(?)...and so on". That one was fairly easy to look up--"Black Narcissus". I was excited to see that "Black Narcissus" was to be broadcast on TCM. I tuned in. I realized that was the movie I remembered. The plot was the same, oh...strike Alps, insert Himalayas. But something important was different, could not quite connect what I had remembered and what I was seeing. I realized, "the movie I was watching was in color...really vibrant color and I had remembered a kind of spooky, dark movie". Huh? I then understood--our family had a black and white TV! My dad didn't buy a color TV until about 1968! So...the movie I am asking about MAY be in color, I simply would not know. I just can't remember anything past the opening of this movie (maybe it was those 'beatings' by my brother...sorry, 'beatings' is too strong a word...more like 'heavy duty lickings'). As I said in the original post, I have had no luck with past look-fors. I was hoping the 'signature' special effects might be enough information for a reader. Thank you for your reply. I will check out the plot synopsis of the two movies you mentioned. Maybe trigger a memory. You know, I suppose it could of been a 'produced for television' show. Doubt it. The only other thing I can think of is the era these 'matinee movies' seemed to have been produced. Almost certainly after World War II (I am pretty sure of this...can't say why) to, of course, 1965-1966. Thanks again. Rusty

Sheldon, A few months ago, a relative gave me a two disk set of "Scarlet Street" and "Red House"--Edward G. Robinson 'two-fer'. Unfortunately, both were obviously from unrestored prints--really bad video. On the positive side, both great films. I am glad a decent DVD of "Scarlet Street" has been released. Maybe the same treatment is in the very near future for "Red House"...hope...hope. When that day comes (if you have not already done so), I recommend a viewing of "Red House". A minor (oh, what the heck...major) classic! Rusty

The movie opens with a birds eye view of a city (NYC?). Vaporous things rise up out of the city and swoop toward the camera. A narrator speaks (on the verge of hysteria)..."The four ????..." The four something or another may be 'fates', 'horseman...'--I just don't remember. Think "Ghostbusters"--the spirits rising up from the skyscraper. The context: I saw this film as a youngster, summer vacation, matinee movie, between harrasment sessions by my big brother and his friends, mid-1960's. The search: I have tried IMDB and search engines...but I don't know how to 'keyword' search the above description. The reason: I don't know. But it must have been a pretty scary effect to have remembered it to this day. Thanks for any reply. I really have wondered about the movie or...is it just my imagination? Whooo... Rusty

Geniebeanie, You mentioned three of Hollywood's best! If your "Tale of Two Cities" is the Ronald Coleman version (I know...a lot of other people are cast in the movie--but, any movie with Ronald Coleman is a Ronald Coleman movie), you might look for the next TCM broadcast of the 1958 "Tale of Two Cities" starring Dirk Bogarde. This British production is pretty lavish and, of course, has a typically wonderful all-British cast. My contribution to the thread: "Killing Fields", the reunion of Dith Pran and Sydney Schanberg. Sydney Schanberg: You forgive me? Dith Pran: Nothing to forgive Sydney. Nothing. Rusty

lzcutter, Is it not also true (I read the Maltin article) that safety film is safe only so far as relatively non-flammable? I have heard that the breakdown rate of safety film sometimes exceeds nitrate. As a chemist (I am), the subject piqued my interest...particularly the randomness of film destruction mentioned by L. Maltin. I am wondering, "what is the mechanism?". I think I will look into it further. Thanks for the post. Rusty

It is a darn shame that MST3000 could not pack into a couple of hours enough guns and goo to satisfy SciFi Channel. What is even worse is bidding $249.50 on 200 cubic inches of MST prop foam and losing to a $250.00 sniper. Just kidding...but I do miss those smarty pants robots. "Kids come running for the great taste of SAMPO!" Rusty

"Spirited Away" is the best movie I have seen on TCM since the Luis Bunuel tribute...and that is a LOT of film product. I would not have considered a theatrical showing or renting the DVD. My loss but, thanks to TCM, I spent four hours with a remarkably creative mind--Hayao Miyazaki. Why four hours? I was smart enough to stay up for the sub-titled version of "Spirited Away". My opinion: sub-titled is the movie to watch. Rusty

Peter, If you continue as host and decide to "Essential-ize" your own work (don't be concerned about how that sort of thing may appear--you wouldn't be the first), please include "Targets" from 1968. I viewed this two or three years ago and the movie has lost none of its power and timeliness. Okay. I know the host probably does not actually choose the "Essentials". Rusty

Wayne, quote: "Nostradamus...rejection of Donna Reed as 'Miss Ellie' on "Dallas"" I have been meaning to comment on your comment regarding the Nostradamus--network TV connection. A couple of years ago I interpreted Quatrain XXIVa as predicting the substitution of Dick York by Dick Sargent--"Bewitched", 1969. Quite specific as to the year...amazing! Thank you for writing about this interesting (and little known) topic. Rusty

johnnyweekes70, quote: "...something inane like a complete filmography of Alan Hale Sr..." Inane?! No...not at all! An appreciation for one of Hollywood's best actors is a fine thing. What was the genesis of interest in Alan Hale Sr.? His positive contribution to ANY movie in which he co-starred?. His very long Hollywood career? I am amazed he played "Little John" three times over a span of what...thirty years? What a guy--Alan Hale Sr.. Rusty

Lux0796, The Sam Goldwyn quote is very funny and worth remembering. I will never have an opportunity to use it (nor would I want to) but, is a perfect example of how "Goldwynisms" came to occupy an entire section of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations. I may be exaggerating the Bartlett's thing a bit.

One more thing. Regarding the "Hollywood Babylon" conversation earlier in this topic. My wife bought the book at a flea market a couple of years ago--we ate it up. The book MAY be bull****--but the "Lupe-loo" story is too bizarre NOT to be true...right?

I like the "ask the imperious Mr. Mayer" questions from earlier in the thread. I have a Louie and Lee question--"L.B...I know you fired Lee Tracy, but did you go out of your way to ruin his career? If so, how? If so, why?" I would ask Lee--"As the most promising comic actor of your time (1930's), was there more to you leaving MGM than just...THE INCIDENT?" By the way: I know Mr. Tracy made a come back of sorts in the 1960's stage play and film "The Best Man". Referring to the film--he WAS the best man.

The..........second..................most................. (I'm getting there) boring.............movie............I.....................have............. (couple of more minutes) ever...................seen.................is................. (wait for it) "Once Upon A Time In The West". Most boring movie (I think it has a slightly longer run time than the piece of **** mentioned above)--"Oh Lucky Man". Plus (thinking about the subject of this thread), I cannot imagine ANYONE EVER regarding "Oh Lucky Man" as something other than a waste of four (or is it six?) hours. Why did I subject myself to the ENTIRE 10 hours of these two movies? Maybe I should see a doctor. Rusty

Even after two (or is it three?) viewings, my response to Primo Carnera's song and dance routine in "The Prizefighter and the Lady" remains...huh? Weird stuff. Rusty

Lux, You are right...tall not round. I was about 7 or 8 years old (forty years ago!) when I saw Jacques Tati in "Mr Hulot's Holiday". Forty years--dim recesses...indeed! I will add Robert Morley and (how did I miss him?)--Orson Welles. Rusty

Edward Arnold in "You Can't Take It With You" set me to making a short list of favorite 'really big guys'...more or less chronological order: Enrico Caruso Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle Alan Hale Sr. Guy Kibee Edward Arnold Sydney Greenstreet Jacques Tati Louis Armstrong Jack Teagarden Jackie Gleason Ernest Borgnine Ron McKernan "Pigpen" Luciano Pavarotti Leslie West John Candy Chris Farley Your favorites? Rusty

Mongo, thank you so much for the William Powell information. About William Powell (quoting a bit of IMDB biography), "played many different roles...always with authority". I would have like to met (maybe share a couple of paradise cocktails?) Mr. Powell...oh well. Rusty

Mongo--do you have any information about what it was like to work with William Powell? Co-star's reminiscence? Last night, I watched a tape of William Powell and Ginger Rogers in "Star of Midnight". Followed by William Powell and Jean Arthur in "The Ex-Mrs. Bradford". He seems to be having so much fun in these movies! Was William Powell as entertaining (on the set) as he appears? Rusty

Thank you feaito for the reply. My cable company is having a 'tiff' (to pay or not to pay) with two local 'over the air' channels. Premium, digital channels are rotated bi-monthly over the (not missed) broadcast 'spots'--including Fox Movie Channel. I will keep an eye out for "All My Sons" next time(s) around. If I seem to be too cheap to shell out the extra for digital cable...I am.

A couple of notes about Greta Garbo: My opinion (about her acting skills)--the 'meatier' the roles (Queen Christina, Camille) the easier it is for me, the audience, to understand her appeal. Though I think no matter the role, she always has an allure. Concerning the "rarely seen...made for Swedish television" Garbo documentary. What a refreshing idea--no 'know-it-all' talking heads! Finally, about Garbo's off screen reserve/mystery. My father grew up (until sixteen years of age) in Sweden. I would say my dad and Greta Garbo were very much alike...uhm, except for the male/female thing. Similar sort of personality...THAT is what I mean.